Greetings Curry Lovers!

If like me you are in a sombre state of mind, I hope that this newsletter will be a brief distraction. Although that Hollywood 'Oscars' ceremony was a sober affair this year (I particularly missed the incomprehensible, sobbing acceptance speeches!), Asians were out in full force in London on Tuesday night at the Annual Asian Business Awards 2003. It seems Asian business has finally accepted the need to support not only entrepreneurs but also not-for-profit organisations with 'Help the Aged' being selected as the Asian Business Awards' Charity of the Year. The charity has also announced the appointment Deepa Patel as its International Development Manager. She will no doubt be looking to form ties with Asians, rich and old alike.

ASIAN BUSINESS AWARDS 2003	'HELP THE AGED' TIES WITH INDIA
The annual Asian Business Awards were announced today by 'Eastern Eye' newspaper, organisers of the awards, at a ceremony held at the Natural History Museum. read more	Charity 'Help the Aged' has appointed Deepa Patel as its International Development Manager. Deepa's role includes working Indian communities in the UK. read more

Of course, if you are as rich as Croesus (who was obviously of Asian descent), then you will have made it into the Asian Richlist 2003 as published by Asian Xpress newspaper. The list, which this year excludes personalities like the Hinduja Brothers, Viren Rastogi and Reuben Singh usually creates much discussion......most notably about those NOT included in the list. One individual who has managed the hat-trick of appearing in all three of our top stories is Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer. Winner of the Asian of the Year 2002 accolade, he also appears in the Rich List and has just won the 'Business of the Year' category at the Asian Business Awards 2003. Our "hat's off" to you Karan!

BRITAIN'S RICHEST ASIANS 2003	KARAN BILIMORIA: 'ASIAN OF THE YEAR 2002'
The Asian Xpress Rich List of the 300 wealthiest Asians in the UK, compiled by Dr Philip Beresford, finds the combined wealth of the 300 millionaires is £8.9 billion. read more	Karan Bilimoria DL, Chief Executive of Cobra Beer has been named Asian of the Year 2002. The award coincides with the 15th edition of the Asian Who's Who. read more

Fellow Parsee, Ardi Kolah, a London-based PR, sponsorship and marketing consultant, has been nominated for two prestigious Hollis Sponsorship Awards for his work on last year' British Independent Film Awards, founded by Raindance. Although the Raindance East Film Festival has just ended, East Londoners now have the chance to see the 'Other Indias' Film Festival that focuses on the fast disappearing Indian independent film industry. Curated by Behroze Gandhy, 'Other Indias' runs at the Whitechapel Gallery until 13th April. And, of course, we mustn't forget that the 'Tongues on Fire' film festival is still in full swing with Shabana Azmi's devilishly wicked film 'Makdee' being screened on 6th April at Waterman's Arts Centre in Brentford and thereafter on 12th April at Phoenix Arts.

RAINMAKER FOR RAINDANCE	'OTHER INDIAS' FILM SEASON
London-based consultant Ardi Kolah has been nominated for two prestigious Hollis Sponsorship Awards 2003 for his work on the British Independent Film Awards, founded by Raindance in 1998. read more	The Indian independent film industry is fast disappearing. 'Other Indias' reveals the other side of Indian cinema. The film season in Whitechapel, London runs from 27th March - 13th April. read more

Just as we need film festivals, and consultants who help support film festivals, we also need new talent. The Enfield Film Fund invites budding young film makers to apply for awards to make short films. The closing date for applications is 25th April 2003. If, on the other hand, you have what it takes to work in radio and television then the BBC has just come to your rescue. Konnie Haq, the gamine 'Blue Peter' presenter, spearheads the BBC's search for New Talent. If you fancy your chances as the next George Alagiah then the BBC News Sponsorship Scheme might be good news (groan!, OK I'll give up with the bad clichés and puns...someday). Or, if your thoughts turn towards drama than the Norman Beaton Radio Drama fellowship might just put the wind in your sails.

ENFIELD FILM FUND 2003	BBC SEEKS NEW TALENT
Budding young film makers can now apply for awards from the Enfield Film Fund to produce short films. The fund aims to encourage new talent. Closing date: 25th April 2003. read more	If you have what it takes to work in television or radio, now is the time to act! The BBC is beginning its annual search for budding broadcast talent with 7 new schemes. read more
BBC NEWS SPONSORSHIP SCHEME	NEW BBC FELLOWSHIP FOR ASIAN ACTORS
The BBC is launching its News Sponsorship Scheme for 2003. The scheme, now in its fourth year, awards around 14 students on BJTC journalism courses full funding for their postgraduate diplomas. read more	The BBC Radio Drama Company is offering a new training opportunity this year to people with a burning desire to act, or who are already actors - a new fellowship named in honour of actor Norman Beaton. read more

Of course, those more inclined to be on the couch side of the television will be interested to know that the beeb's top-rated soap 'EastEnders' is to get an Asian family of its own - the Ferreiras. The father of the Goan family is Dan Ferreira, played by Dalip Tahil (Bombay Dreams); his three sons are Ronnie, Ash and Adi and daughter is Kareena. Ronnie's friend Tariq is also becoming an EastEnder. What struck me was how the Ferreira Family is without a mother. The BBC is earnestly embracing cultural diversity, but obviously even the scriptwriters couldn't handle the thought of an Asian matriarch!

The Theatre, however, is never one to shirk from the Asian mother character. Bapsi Sidhwa's book 'American Brat' has been turned into a new play 'Sock 'em with Honey' by the Kali Theatre Company. Featuring a Parsee family (...see there is a tenuous link in there somewhere), Feroza's mother, played by the excellent Kitu Gidwani, arrives from Karachi to dissuade her daughter from marrying a Jewish boy. The play is currently showing in Leicester and will launch in London on 15th April. Meanwhile at Waterman's in Brentford, Mumbai actors star in 'A Funny Thing Called Love', performed in English. The Desai household includes the hen-pecked Mr Desai, the matriarchal Mrs Desai (see what I mean!), Anuskha and Bunty. But the tranquillity of the household is rudely interrupted with the arrival of Melwyn and Dougy D'Costa. The play runs from 3-13th April.

SOCK 'EM WITH HONEY BY BAPSI SIDHWA	'A FUNNY THING CALLED LOVE'
Kali Theatre presents its new production, Sock 'em with Honey. Feroza is blissfully happy. She's in love and wants to marry her Jewish boyfriend, David. But, her family is not so ecstatic. They want her to follow tradition and settle down with a nice Parsee boy. read more	Performed in English by actors from Mumbai, A Funny Thing Called Love is a heart-warming and hilarious story of a family as the children endeavour to seek out 'true love'. read more

Meanwhile......gosh, this is beginning to sound like a C-rated whodunnit.....at the Riverside Studios in London, actress Nina Wadia has produced 'Bollywood Yet Another Love Story' performed by the Reduced Indian Film Company. If this film company is anything like namesake 'The Reduced Shakespeare Company', then the play will be a hilarious parody of Bollywood complete with lavish dance sequences and colourful costumes. A more serious, but no less joyous celebration of South Asian Arts, is 'Vasant', a spring weekend of music, theatre and dance brought to you by Sampad, a dynamic development agency based in Birmingham.

BOLLYWOOD YET ANOTHER LOVE STORY	VASANT - SPRING SHOWCASE
'Bollywood Yet Another Love Story' is a hilarious comedy by the Reduced Indian Film Company. It recreates the full Bollywood experience with lavish film and dance sequences and colourful costumes. On until the 20th of April 2003. read more	'Vasant', by Sampad, is a weekend bringing you an exciting programme of South Asian music, theatre and dance. Sampad is a dynamic development agency for South Asian Arts based in Birmingham. The event runs from 3 - 6th April 2003 at the Midlands Arts Centre. read more

If all this relentless entertainment is making you hungry (personally I think about food every 16 seconds, unlike the male population which thinks merely about sex!), then you might like to know that Chutney Mary has been named the Indian Restaurant of the Year by the Tio Pepe Carlton Television London Restaurant Awards. Just remembering to include all the names of sponsors makes me hungry. And no....Chutney Mary is not a Parsee restaurant, although the eponymous 'The Parsee' eaterie in Highgate Hill was shortlisted in the same category. Having enjoyed their 'Mumbai no Frankie' (the Parsee equivalent of an egg roll), I can say quite frankly that this type of cooking is a refreshing change from your average curry.

CHUTNEY MARY WINS TOP PRIZE	VAMA COOKERY CLASSES - NEW SEASON
Camellia Panjabi's restaurant 'Chutney Mary' took home the Indian Restaurant of the Year Award at this year’s Tio Pepe Carlton London Restaurant Awards announced on 10th March 2003. read more	The new term of Vama's one-day cookery classes will be taking place from 15th March - 21st June. Executive Chef Andy Varma will share some of his top gastronomic secrets. read more

Although there is no such thing as an "average" curry as Andy Varma of Vama will tell you. He has just started the new season of his one-day cookery classes that run until 21st June. Those of you who have berated me about my unhealthy interest in Mr Varma have obviously never tried his cooking! I was also going to mention Ben & Jerry's new ice cream concoction 'Karamel Sutra', but as this might encourage another karhai full of emails I'll leave you with this thought....."It's the rich wot gets the gravy".....or curry....or ice cream.....or Cobra Beer!

Until next time,
Lopa Patel (Editor - redhotcurry.com)

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